"The face of God is that of a merciful father, who is always patient... He does not tire of forgiving us if we know how to turn to him with a contrite heart... The Lord never tires of forgiving. We are the ones who tire of asking for forgiveness." (Angelus, March 17, 2013)

I said I was unsure but I am not unsure about my views on the role of women and homosexuals.

During the years of the early Christian church women served as deacons, priests, bishops, apostles, teachers and prophets. It wasn't until the fourth century that dominant Christian leaders, all men, twisted and distorted Holy Scriptures to perpetuate their ascendant positions within the religious hierarchy.

Women served as deaconesses. But not for long. Just because something was current in the primitive Church does not mean it should be now. Some things die out for a reason. However, I personally do not have a problem with studying the question of deconesses.

I don't think there is any credible evidence that they were apostles or priests or bishops. Prophets, yes. Prophecy is a gift of the Spirit for the Community. The hierarchy merely authenticates prophecy.

I think the early Christians would be quite surprised at the modern attitude to hierarchy and seeing it as a struggle for power or domination. We are all Christians, with different roles to perform within the Church by divine mandate. Let's live in peace with one another and serve.

I'm sorry you have the views you have about the twisting and distorting of Scripture.